Internal-combustion engine.



H. F. OBERGFELL.

INTERN AL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8.1912.

Patented May 11, 1915.

9 n1? 0 57171 1 Z I a I UNITED %TATE% PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT F. OBERGFELL, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO TALBOT G. MARTIN AND ONE-THIRD TOJOHN ERICKSON, BOTH OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1915.

Application filed June 8, 1912. Serial No. 702,553.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERBERT F. OBERG- FELL, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented. a certain new and usefulImprovement in Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is afull, clear, concise, grid exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to internal combus tion engines and has for itsobject the provision of an improved engine of this character capable ofoperation without the use of valve mechanism.

In the preferred form of my invention, I utilize a crank case or aportion analogous to, say a compression chamber, for the supply offluid, but such fluid as used in the crank chamber is free fromcombustible material. This greatly promotes safety in the operation ofengines of this class. In the form herein shown the compressed fluid isforced at a given predetermined time into the explosion chamber anddraws with it through means arranged extraneously of the crank chamberthe combustible material, preferably in carbureted form. I emlploysuitably arranged ports and contro ing mechanism to control the entireoperation of the engine. 7

I will explain one embodiment of my invention in connection with theaccompanyin% drawings, in whichigure 1 is a vertical transversesectional view of an engine equipped in accordance with my invention,and Fig. 2 is a detailed vertical sectional view of the carburetingmechanism.

Referring more particularly to I show an engine having an inclosingcasing 1 to form a crank chamber'2. A cylinder 3 is -mounted by means ofthe bolts 4 on the crank casing and has at its upper end an explosionchamber 5. A piston 6 operates within the cylinder and the space uponthe opposite side of the cylinder to that confining the explosionchamber communicates directly with the crank chamber 2 and for. allpractical purposes is a part of this crank chamber. A shaft 7 carrying acrank 8 is associated with the piston 6 through the agency of theconnecting rod 9. An air inlet port 10 formed in the cylinder 3periodically fore the piston admits air of atmospheric pressure to .thecrank chamber. An exhaust port 11 is also provided within the cylinderto permit the discharge of the products of combustion after eachexplosion. The cylinder likewise is provided with a port 12 throughwhich the compressed air is forced fromthe crank chamber to theexplosion chamber through the pipe 13. This pipe 13 communicatesdirectly with the port 12 and covers the entire port. This pipe l3:l eads through the interposition of suitable .carbureting and controllingmechanism herein after to be explained to the pipe 14;, which pipe 14leads directly to an inlet port 15 from the explosion chamber. Thepiston is hollow and this hollow interior communicates directly with thecrank chamber, the hollow interior of the piston being cut off from theexplosion chamber by the upper wall 16 of this piston. The wall 16 ofthepiston carries a baiile plate 17 to direct the flow of incoming gases aswill presentlyappear. Any suitable kind of sparkplug 18 is provided. Thepiston also has a port 19, which port at suitabletimesregisters with theport 12 to thereby permit the gases to flow from the crank chamber throuh the ports 19 and 12 into the pipe 13. Tie piston has downwardlyprojecting aprons 2.0 to maintain closure of the port 12 when the pistonis at the upper extremity of its stroke. Depending aprons are provided'on opposite sides of the piston and the one adjacent-the port 12 alwayskeeps the port 12 closed except when the port 19 registers with thisport 12.

The general operation of the engine thus far outlined is as follows:Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 1,

air is admitted to the crank case at atmospheric pressure through theinlet port 10. The piston now moving downwardly closes the port 10 andcompresses the air in the crank case until such time as the port 19registers with the port 12, at which time the compressed air flowsthrough the pipe 18 through the carbureting apparatus, to be explained,then through the pipe 14, after reaching which pipe the air has beensupplied with the combustible material. Be-

has reached its lowermost position, port 10 has beenpartially opened topermi the compressed gases in the explosion chamber 5 to flow outthrough this exhaust port 11 and the piston in its further downwardtravel finally opens the port 15, which thereupon permits the richexplosive mixture under pressure to flow into the explosion chamber beindiverted upwardly by the'baffle plate 17. his explosive mlxture enteringthe explosion chamber helps to force out the products of combustion fromthe explosion chamber through the combustible mixture in the explosionchamher until such time as the explosion occurs, which again directs thepiston downwardly. During the time that the piston has 00- cupied itsuppermost position, a fresh supply of air has been taken into the crankcasinfi through the port 10.

eferringmore particularly to Fig. 2, I show in the tube 13 a suitablethrottle21. The compressed air from the crank casing passing through thetube 13 enters a assageway 22 having a Venturi tube 23 therein throughwhich the compressed air passes, passing then through suitable gauzes 24into the tube 14. ,A nozzle 25 projects into the Venturi tube and leadsdirectly into a supply chamber 26 for explosive fluid. The

, level of the liquid in the chamber 26 should theflow of air from thetube is controlled by the screw threaded a preferably be even with themouth of the nozzle 25. A float 27 is provided in the chamber 26 andmaintains the level of the liquid within the chamber 26 at the leveldesired by controlling through suitable valve mechanism 28 the influx ofex losive fluid from the supply tube 29. y-pass controlling valve 30 isprovided WhlCh controls 13 throu h a ast the Venturi tube 23. his eldagainst its seat by means of and the tension of this spring justablehandle 30". In this way the degree of throttle opening tends partly toregulate the opening of the valve 3Q and the degree of opening inaccordance with a by-pass 31 valve 30 is a spring 30 certain amount ofthrottle opening is dependent upon the amount of ad ustment of t eelement 30*.

It is designed that the adjustment of the valve 30 be in its naturerather of a permanent character depending upon the characteristics ofthe engine and the dut it is called upon to rform. Other regu ations maythen be e ected by the throttle 21 to control the engine. It will thusbe seen that the compressed'air flowing through the tube 13 a said crankchamber,

gathers explosive fluid or liquid in carbureted form in its passagethrough the Venturi tube so that by the time it reaches the tube 14 anexplosive mixture has been provided ready for use in the explosionchamber 5.

It will also be apparent that my invention may have many applicationsand may be widely deviated from without departing from its spirit. a

Having however thus described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1.v An internal combusion engine having a cylinder, an explosion chambertherein, an inclosed crank chamber, a pi'stonifor said cylinder adaptedto compress fluid in-the crank chamber, means'to conduct compressedfluid from said crank chamber to said explosion chamber, a source ofcombustible fluid associated with said means whereby in said compressedfluid, said piston having means to prevent the return of explosivemixture fromsaid first aforesaid means to a port in said cylindercoiiperating with said means in said piston and controlled by saidpiston to control the flow of compressed and means to conduct more orless of said compressed fluid around said source of combustible fluid.

2. An internal combustion engine having a cylinder, an explosion chambertherein, an

inclosed crank chamber, a piston for said cylinder adapted to compressfluid in the crank chamber, means to conduct compressed fluid from saidcrank chamber to sion chamber, a source of combustible uid associatedwith said means whereby in the passage of co ressed fluid through saidmeans, said coi li ustible fluid is mixed with said compressed. fluid,said piston having means to prevent the return'of explosive mixture fromsaid first aforesaid means to said crank chamber, a port in saidcylinder e06 crating with said means in said piston an contro ed by saidpiston to control the flow of compressed-fluid into said means, a portin said cylinder controlled by said iston to control the influx of fluidmixture into said explosion chamber, and means to conduct more or lessof said compressed'fluid around said source of combustible fluid.

3. An internal combustion engine having a cylinder, an explosion chambertherein, an inclosed crank chamber, a piston for said cylinder adaptedto compress fluidin the fluid into said means, a

said e; 107..

crank chamber, means to conduct compressed fluid from said crank'chamberto said explosion chamber, a source of combustible fluid associated withsaid means whereby in the passage of compressed fluid through saidmeans, sald combustible fluid is mixed with said compressed fluid, saidpiston having 85 the passage of compressed fluid through said means,said combustible fluid is mixed with means to prevent the return ofexplosive mixture from said first aforesaid means to said crank chamber,a port in said cylinder cooperating with said means in said piston andcontrolled by flow of compressed fluid into said means, and a port insaid cylinder controlled by said piston to control the influx of fluidmixture into said explosion chamber, a port in said cylinder controlledby said piston to control the influx of fluid to be compressed in thesaid crank chamber, and means to conduct more or less of said compressedfluid around said source of combustible fluid.

4. An internal combustion engine having a cylinder, an explosionchambertherein, an inclosed crank chamber, a piston for said cylinder adaptedto compress fluid in the crank chamber, means to conduct compresse fluidfrom said crank chamber to said explosion chamber, a source ofcombustible fluid associated with said means whereby in the passage ofcompressed fluid through said means, said combustible fluid is mixed witsaid compressed fluid, said piston having means to prevent the return ofexplosive mixture from said first aforesaid means to said crank chamber,a port in said cylinder cooperating with said means in said piston andcontrolled by said piston to control the flow of compressed fluid intosaid means, and a port in said cylinder controlled by said piston tocontrol the influx of fluid mixture into said explosion chamber, a portin said cylinder controlled by said piston to control the flux of fluidto be compressed in the said crank chamber, a port in said cylindercontrolled by said piston to control the exhaust of combusted fluid fromsaid explosion said piston to control the chamber, and means to conductmore or less of said compressed fluid around said source of combustiblefluid.

5. An internal combustion engine having a cylinder, an explosion chambertherein an inclosed crank chamber, a piston for said cylinder adapted tocompress fluid in the crank chamber, means to conduct compressed fluidfrom said crank chamber to said explosion chamber, a source ofcombustible fluid associated with said means whereby in the passage ofcompressed fluid through said means, said combustible fluid is mixedwith said compressed fluid, said piston having means to prevent thereturn of explosive mixture from said first aforesaid means tosaid'crank chamber, a port in said cylinder cooperating with said meansin said piston and controlled by said piston to control the flow ofcompressed fluid into said means, and a port in said cylinder controlledby said piston to control the influx of fluid mixture into saidexplosion chamber, a port in said cylinder controlled by said piston tocontrol the influx of fluid to be compressed in the said crank chamber,a port in'said cylinder controlled by said piston to control the exhaustof combusted fluid from said exlosion chamber, baffling means carriedby.

said piston, and means to conduct more or less of said compressed fluidaround said source of combustible fluid.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 24th day of May,A. 1)., 1912.

HERBERT F. OBERGFELL.

Witnesses:

MAX W. ZABEL, HAZEL Jones.

